Transportation Planning Grant Overview

2021 Cycle Informational Webinar

Office of Community Transportation

Goals of the Transportation Planning Grant

• Assist Tennessee communities with planning efforts that define the transportation cohesiveness between multimodal transportation systems and local land use objectives that achieve the statewide transportation goals

• Aid with the creation of planning documents that support improvements in traffic flow, safety, and overall efficiency of the transportation system

• Provide governments with planning resources to achieve community visions as related to transportation and land use needs that promote future economic growth

Town of Chapel Hill Bicycle & Pedestrian Study, 2016-2017

Why are programs like this important?

• It is in the State’s fiscal interest to help communities create, adopt, and implement good planning documents

• Good planning at the local level helps maximize the State’s future infrastructure investments

– "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”—Benjamin Franklin

• The future is hard to predict, but easier to manage if a framework to handle growth is in place

• The rural communities of today can become the growth magnets of the future

Collierville, Tennessee Spring Hill, Tennessee

1970 Population: 3,651 2020 Population: 51,040

1980 Population: 9892020 Population: 50,005

Dollars & Cents

Urban Transportation Planning Grant Community Transportation Planning GrantFor Metropolitan Planning Organization areas For Rural Planning Organization areas

Cities and Counties can apply Cities and Counties can apply

Cities and Counties can jointly apply Cities and Counties can jointly apply

90% state, 10% local match* 90% state, 10% local match*

$200,000 maximum $125,000 maximum

*Counties & Municipalities within them that are “distressed” as of FY2021 qualify for no local match (does not guarantee your plan will be selected for funding).

History of the Planning Grant

Program Year Number of Recipients Amount Awarded

2015-2016 (RPO) 8 cities $1.8 million

2016-2017 (RPO) 10 cities $1.5 million

2018-2019 (RPO) 22 cities & counties $1.3 million

2020-2021 (RPO) 24 cities & counties $1.3 million

2020-2021 (MPO) 10 cities $1.4 million

Previous Recipients

How does the Application Process Work?• Cities/Counties submit their applications in PDF form to

Stacy.Morrison@tn.gov by December 30, 2021

• A selection committee of TDOT staff will be selected to evaluate applications

• All applications will be sent to their respective MPO/RPO so that they are aware of submitted applications within their areas

• The MPO/RPO may endorse, acknowledge, or rank applications in their area for consideration by the TDOT selection committee

• The TDOT selection committee shall recommend qualifying applications to the LRP Director for review and approval

• TDOT will notify grant recipients, as well as the respective MPO/RPO

• Notices to Proceed are expected no later than April 2022

What are the Grant Application Requirements?

• A completed grant application shall include a signed resolution of support from the applying jurisdiction(s)

• The resolution shall include an agreement to pay the 10% match if the grant is awarded

• Once the project is complete the plan shall be adopted by resolution

What should my application include?• The applications will be evaluated by the TDOT

selection committee on the following criteria:

• Completeness of applications (submitted on time)

• Identified transportation need (such as local or regional connectivity)

• Accessibility (access to local or regional services and facilities)

• Economic development (supporting economic growth, commerce, tourism or revitalization)

• Safety (addressing safety concerns within the jurisdiction)

• Community support

What is your involvement like during the planning process?

City/County Consultants TDOT Staff

Approve Scope of Work Complete Scope of Work Set up the contract with consultants

Recommend Stakeholders Organize Meetings Review Scope of Work & issue Notice to Proceed

Participate in meetings Collect Data Oversee the planning process

Assist in getting the word out about Public Outreach

Conduct Public Outreach & analyze Public Survey data

Collect, review, & approve invoices for payment

Review draft plan & submit feedback Draft a final plan Review draft plan & submit

feedback

Sign a resolution adopting the plan once complete Submit a final plan Ensure that plan meets local &

TDOT expectations*

*All work requires approval of the local jurisdiction

Typical Timeline

April May June July August September October November

Project Kickoff

Stakeholder Feedback & Coordination

Community Outreach Survey

Evaluation & Analysis

Identify Recommendations

Finalize Plan

Public MeetingPublic Meeting

What plans are eligible?

• The transportation planning world is your oyster!

• We’ve typically funded plans such as:• Corridor Studies• Bicycle & Pedestrian Plans• Complete Streets Plans• Transportation Systems Management &

Operations (TSMO) Studies• Community Mobility Plans• Resurfacing and Striping Plans

• We welcome any creativity and innovative ideas

• If you have questions on potential eligibility, reach out to your OCT staff and RPO/MPO staff

Plan Examples

YOUR PLAN2022

Can anyone help me with my application?

What do I do with a completed plan?

Multimodal Access Grant

Transportation Alternatives

Program

Surface Transportation

Block Grant

State Industrial Access

Highway Safety Improvement

ProgramResurfacing

Utilize Local Funding for plan implementation

Helpful Links

• TDOT Transporation Planning Grant Website• OCT Contact Information• RPO Information• MPO Information

Thank you!